If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. It’s a fresh word game from the New York Times that combines elements of a word search with clever, theme-based twists.
23 February 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “Strike a chord”
Today’s theme leaned into music—specifically the anatomy of a familiar instrument. Rather than song titles or musical genres, the puzzle focused on structural parts. It felt cohesive and straightforward once you spotted the pattern, though a couple of the longer words could easily blend into the grid at first glance.
23 February 2026 NYT Strands Hints
- Think of parts that make up a popular string instrument.
- Look for both shorter and longer technical terms.
- Some words refer to tuning and sound adjustment.
- The grid hides terms that musicians interact with physically.
- Spangram: The central instrument that ties all these parts together.
23 February 2026 NYT Strands Answers
- HEADSTOCK
- NECK
- BODY
- PEGS
- BRIDGE
- STRING
- FRETBOARD
Spangram
GUITAR
The spangram, GUITAR, runs across the grid and perfectly sums up the theme. Every listed word represents a structural component of this classic string instrument, from tuning pegs to fretboard.
How Strands works
Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
- You’re given a theme.
- The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
- Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
- Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!
Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.
How to get and use hints
Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:
- To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
- Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
- When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.
Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.
Tips to become a NYT Strands pro
- Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
- Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.
Final thoughts
Today’s puzzle felt approachable once the instrument connection clicked. The theme was clean and cleverly focused, making it satisfying to complete. Did you spot the spangram early, or did it come together at the end?
